Cross-cultural conflicts in
Kiran Desai’s Inheritance of Loss
Himanshi
Gadhia1, Babita Kar2, Divya Mehta3
ABSTRACT
The Inheritance of Loss
by Kiran Desai is an emotive exploration of cultural symbols,
displacement, and colonialism. In cross-cultural conflicts: A
Study of Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss, the novel is examined
as a narrative that reflects the struggles of individuals caught
between conflicting worlds, ancient Indian values, and the
attraction or imposition of Western modernity. The characters,
mainly the superannuated judge Jemubhai Patel and his granddaughter
Sai, denote the psychological toll of cultural repetition and
alienation. Through stories of movement, diaspora, and desire, Desai
exemplifies how the inheritance of colonialism continues to show
personal and collective identities. The title "The cross-cultural
conflicts" signifies the emotional and existential weight carried by
those who inherit fractured cultural lineages, often leading to
confusion, loss, and inner conflict. The study highlights how Desai
intricately weaves issues of race, class, and nationalism into a
narrative of cultural displacement, offering a deeply human account
of what it means to live between worlds.
Keywords:
Cross-cultural, conflicts, Indian, Immigrants
